Mets Archives - Jane Heller

Bruised and Battered But Still Standing

July 29, 2019

What an awful week. Getting hammered by the big bats on the Twins was no picnic, and then came the trip to Fenway — a nightmare I’d like to forget. Salvaging the finale last night was nice (thank you, German, Didi, Gio, Romine, et al), but to have our starters used as punching bags, particularly in early innings, was depressing and only underscored the need for GOOD STARTING PITCHING.

Stroman is off the market now, not that he was on my list, so where is Cashman on this issue? If he can’t pull off a really good trade now, before the Wednesday deadline, when can he? His team simply won’t cut it in the postseason without a solid rotation and right now ours is in tatters. My preference? Go out and get HIM.

That’s right. I want Thor. He’s young, not some washed up veteran. And he can pitch. And he clearly has experience pitching in New York.

With Sanchez, CC and LeMahieu (that one hurts most of all) suffering from various injuries, the Yankees have to dig deep and keep the Red Sox and Rays at bay down the stretch. The road only gets tougher from here on. I’m cautious but hopeful.

Why Is Losing Such a Bummer?

June 11, 2018

The Yankees beat the Mets two out of three games at Citi Field this weekend. And yet it’s last night’s loss in the finale that bugs me. Well, it bugs me that the offense wasn’t exactly robust throughout the series, but it especially bugs me that we were shut out. Watching guys like Stanton and Sanchez flail at the ball is depressing. And what happened to Didi? How do you forget how to swing at a baseball?

I know, I know. The big guys will get hot one of these days and go on a tear. But right now? I’m not happy with them.

And then there’s Tanaka’s injury. He could be on the DL awhile. Montgomery’s lost to us this season. Doesn’t Cashman have to go out and get a starter? Like now? Or is he thinking of bringing up more AAA kids?

If the Yanks are serious contenders this year, we need starting pitching and consistent offense if not always in the middle of the order then throughout the lineup.

Yeah, last night left me with a bad taste. I need to snap out of it.

All Rise

June 7, 2018

I’m back. Boxes are gone. So is the dreaded packing paper. And I can actually walk around my new place in FL without tripping over something.

So….that means my head is clear for Yankees baseball, and last night’s contest against Toronto was a nail biter. Sonny Gray. Wow. Suddenly, he’s Cy Young? A shutout for eight innings, giving up only two hits to the Jays? “Pretty, pretty good,” as Larry David would say.

With both teams stymied on offense and into extra innings, it was Judge who broke through with a two-run homer, putting the Yanks on the board. Very exciting. Stanton’s solo shot gave us insurance. And the pen made the win possible.

The weather has been wrecking havoc on the Yankees’ schedule and today is another off-day, so I hope they’re ready for this weekend’s series against the Mets. It would be nice to pick up some games on the Red Sox and get back out in front.

How Sweep It Is!

August 17, 2017

A four-game sweep against any team is a big deal at this critical time of the year, but a four-game Subway Series sweep is especially sweet. With the Red Sox having the night off, the Yanks are four games back with this weekend’s series at Fenway to come (weather permitting).

Of note…

Severino had a fun night tonight getting not only the win but his first major league hit. He looked as happy as a kid at Christmas.

Gary Sanchez is on fire at the plate. Whether he only heats up during the month of August or that lunch he had with A-Rod turned his head around, he’s been our power offense right now.

Didi is clutch. Period. He hardly ever disappoints.

Judge is hitting the occasional bomb, but he’s swinging at bad pitches and needs to finish strong.

Yet another player went on the DL: Garrett Cooper, who was hitting really well. But Tyler Austin is back, so maybe he’ll make the most of his turn in the majors.

Montgomery didn’t go on the DL despite getting hit on the ear during batting practice and pitched well in spite of what must have been a little scary.

What will happen this weekend? Beats me, but I’m eager to find out.

What Can I Say?

August 14, 2017

I was never a fan of Chapman’s. He throws hard, but he seemed like trouble, and I much preferred having Andrew Miller back if that were possible. But here we are. Chapman is blowing saves. He’s not the same guy we had the first time around. Whether the problem was Joe Maddon, who rode Chapman too hard in last season’s World Series, or a rough patch or simply the fact that no matter how hard you throw the baseball, you still have to learn how to pitch. Remember Kyle Farnsworth?

Last night’s loss to the Red Sox in the series finale wasn’t the fault of the offense for once. I defy anyone to hit Chris Sale, and the Yankees did a decent job of trying. No, this one was on Chapman.

So now we sit 5 1/2 games back about to face the Mets, then the Sox again. Where does this team go? Someone on Facebook suggested Aaron Judge was another Dave Kingman and I vehemently disputed that. But is he? Or will we see the Judge of early in the season? Thank God Hicks is back. Boy, did I miss him. Having Starlin Castro back would help too. Ditto: Matt Holliday. But mostly it’s our rotation and those injuries that are so disturbing. First CC, then Tanaka, never mind Pineda. It’s one big question mark whether Luis Cessa is the guy to fill in. At this point, I’d rather have Nick Swisher.

Sweeping the Jays – Wowowow

September 8, 2016

I think I’ll let Tyler Kepner of The New York Times have the floor on the state of the Yankees (and the Mets). What’s going on following last night’s sweep of Toronto in the Bronx and Mitchell’s terrific pitching is downright exciting. Only a couple of games to win and the Yanks would right there for the Wild Card and what fun would that be?

Mets and Yankees Are Suddenly a Hot Story

On Baseball

By TYLER KEPNER SEPT. 7, 2016

First the Mets finished a sweep of the Reds on Wednesday afternoon in Cincinnati. Then the Yankees finished a sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays at night in the Bronx. Two New York baseball seasons, revived just like that.

The story lines are compelling. The Mets were battered and broken, over and over, by serious injuries to significant players. The Yankees were presumed dead by their own hand after trading several stars.

Yet here they are: The Mets are in a virtual tie with St. Louis for the second National League wild-card spot, and the Yankees trail Baltimore by just two and a half games. You can see it now, a plausible scenario coming into focus out in the distance. It might not be fair, but it is modern baseball — and it is really benefiting the New York teams.

The Mets could keep bashing homers and scrap their way into the wild-card game. With their soft schedule, they very well could host it, and win behind Noah Syndergaard, their one remaining power arm from last fall’s World Series.

That would set up a division series date with the Chicago Cubs, the team they eliminated in the championship series last October. Imagine the jangling nerves around Wrigleyville if Bartolo Colon weaves his magic and wins Game 1.

The Yankees, with their young sensations and revived veterans, could elbow past the field to earn a spot in the American League wild-card game. They almost never lose with Masahiro Tanaka pitching (they are 13-2 in his starts since mid-June), so they could use him and barge into a division series with the Texas Rangers.

Now, the Cubs and the Rangers have spent all season proving they deserve a shot at the World Series. The Cubs were 40 games over .500 before Wednesday’s games, and the Rangers (83-56) were the first A.L. team to clinch a winning record.

Good for them. But this will be the fifth postseason to include a second wild card, an entrant riding a wave of momentum into the postseason party. Everybody starts over then, and whoever wins the wild card is bound to be hot. The Yankees, now 73-65, fit the profile.

“We kind of have nothing to lose,” Mark Teixeira said Wednesday, after a 2-0 victory that lifted the Yankees to a season-best eight games over .500. “We’re just having a good time. It’s been really fun watching these young guys contribute, whether it’s offensively or the pitching staff. It seems like every single day a guy that hasn’t been with us most of the year is coming up and doing a great job for us.”

The Yankees had used eight pitchers in Tuesday’s wild win, and on Wednesday they found three others to stymie Toronto’s big bats: Bryan Mitchell, Luis Severino and Tyler Clippard. Three pitchers earned saves in the series; that had not happened for the Yankees in 19 years.

The Yankees, who were 52-52 at the Aug. 1 nonwaiver deadline, have turned a stale season into one of discovery. Every night, it seems, they find new answers within their roster. They added just enough veteran relievers at the deadline — Clippard and Adam Warren — to give themselves a chance despite the trades.

“We’ve been playoff baseball really since about Aug. 1, because we knew the importance of those games,” Manager Joe Girardi said. “I think we were .500 after the first four months, and we knew that that wasn’t going to cut it.”

The Yankees would be a menace in the playoffs, the kind of team nobody wants to play. Their late surge could threaten to undo the season-long excellence of the Rangers — the team that gladly poached their All-Star outfielder, Carlos Beltran, in an Aug. 1 trade.

But that is the modern playoff format, designed to make the sport more exciting down the stretch. More interest in more markets means better business for baseball, even if real greatness can be trumped by the fifth team in the field.

Lifelong baseball fans do not need five playoff teams in each league to love the game. But there are not enough purists out there to expand an industry worth more than $9 billion, so here we are. The Mets and the Yankees still have a chance.

Do you remember that the Washington Nationals were the best N.L. team in 2012 and 2014? Maybe not, because they lost both times to the second wild-card team — the Cardinals in 2012, the San Francisco Giants two years later. Last fall the Cardinals felt the same kind of sting: They won 100 games in the regular season, but went nowhere because the second wild-card team — the Cubs — knocked them out.

The second wild card can seem like a participation trophy, but remember that Major League Baseball’s playoff field is still smaller than those of the N.F.L., N.B.A. or N.H.L. The 2014 Giants used it as their entry ticket en route to a World Series victory. They all count the same.

For the Mets, a playoff spot would be a reward for perseverance after season-ending injuries to David Wright, Matt Harvey, Lucas Duda and Neil Walker. Starters Jacob deGrom and Steven Matz are down, too, and it is hard to count on them coming back. Even Syndergaard is pitching with a bone spur in his right elbow.

Yet the Mets have gone 14-4 since Aug. 20, the weekend Yoenis Cespedes and Asdrubal Cabrera returned from the disabled list. After sweeping the woeful Reds, they play 19 of their last 22 games against teams with losing records.

“There’s nothing like coming to the ballpark in September when it means something,” Manager Terry Collins told reporters in Cincinnati Wednesday. “The energy is better. The aches and pains don’t seem to hurt as bad. We’re fortunate to be where we are.”

Let the Cubs and the Rangers fret about what might happen in October. For the New York teams, September is a blast — much more fun than they had could have ever expected, thanks partly to the forgiving playoff system that keeps them alive.

They are lucky indeed that the rest of the field is peeling away, just as the Yankees are lucky that trading great players sparked a turnaround.

Post Subway Series, Now What?

August 5, 2016

We saw Gary Sanchez get his first major league hit and serve as DH. We saw the successful return of Luis Severino out of the bullpen. But the Yankees held fast to their tendency to play .500 baseball with a series split against the Mets. They’re a different team but their results are the same. And so be it.

The big question everyone’s asking going forward – and Girardi is getting peeved about being asked day after day, can’t blame him – is what’s to be done with A-Rod? He gets no playing time. He’s just….there. I read an article in the NYT the other day about what a great mentor he’s been to the younger players and how baseball-smart he is (we could see that from watching his commentary on the TV playoff coverage). So what happens to him?

My guess is the Yankees organization will retain him for the duration of this season and then release him (unless the Marlins are willing to take him). And then he’ll either play for another year (again, for the Marlins most likely) to reach his milestones, or settle into the broadcast booth. As I said, he’s good in front of the camera when talking about the game as opposed to himself.

Meanwhile, the Yanks take on the now-powerhouse Cleveland Indians this weekend and that means facing Andrew Miller. It’ll make me sad to see him in their uniform.

Gone With the Wind

August 1, 2016

First Chapman. Then Miller. Then Beltran. Then Nova. Gonzo.

The Yankees turned the page for real today at the trade deadline. Cashman acknowledged that the team’s inconsistency – or, as he admitted, the team’s losses in Tampa – put an exclamation point on the disappointing season. We are now officially in rebuilding mode, and I don’t consider that a bad thing. I think the kids will be exciting to watch as they make their mark at the major league level. Sanchez. Judge. Severino. Green. Plus the new prospects we just got in trades.

Chapman, Miller and Beltran will be huge assets to their new teams. Nova? I have no idea how he’ll do with the Pirates. I wish him well.

Is A-Rod on his way out? There doesn’t seem to be a place for him. He’s taking up a roster spot, blocking a kid from coming up. The Yanks are going to have to decide what to do with him. If I were A-Rod, I’d pack my bags.

Meanwhile, the Yanks beat the Mets tonight in extra innings so that was something. As for the rest of the season and beyond? We’re off to the great unknown.

That Series Was Huuuuuge

September 21, 2015

If you had told me that CC would still be on the mound throwing his 100th+ pitch in tonight’s finale against the Mets, I would have said, “No way.” Judging by the first inning, I figured he’d be gone by the third and the Yankees would be scrounging for relievers to finish the game. But not only did CC steady himself, he kept the Mets totally in check, saved the over-taxed bullpen and delivered an enormous win. With the Jays losing again to the Red Sox (thank you, Boston), the Yanks drew within 2 1/2 games heading into the all-important series in Toronto.

Unfortunately, there was also Tanaka news: bad Tanaka news. What is it with these starting pitchers when they play in National League ballparks? The second they have a bat in their hands instead of a ball and a glove, they think they have to be Rickey Henderson. Tanaka was trying to beat out a bunt on Friday night when he strained his hamstring. Even so, he went on to pitch several more innings before coming out of the game and getting an MRI. So now he’s out with a grade 1 strain and Nova – the same Nova who was banished to the pen for his stinko pitching – will get the start against the Jays on Wednesday instead. *Shivers* I only hope Tanaka will be OK for his next start.

In better news, Ellsbury seems to be coming around. He certainly contributed with his speed, which has to be a confidence boost for him. And how about Ackley? The guy is hitting, and we need hitting. And speaking of hitting, my guy, Bird, had another homer, giving us a Janer. I hope he doesn’t turn out to be a one-season wonder like Kevin Maas or Shane Spencer.

So having won another series, the Yankees head to Toronto for the biggest series of the season. It’s make or break time, people. Fingers and toes crossed.

Rookies Rule, But What Happened to This Guy?

September 17, 2015

Last night’s finale in Tampa was a big win for the Yankees and a close one, but thanks in large part to Severino and Bird, we escaped the Trop by taking the series and staying three games behind the Jays. It burns me that the Jays actually lost to the Braves the night before while the Yankees were nearly getting no-hit, but I guess keeping pace is something. It’s just that the season is dwindling, along with opportunities to grab the division title. The Yanks need to keep winning as well as get lucky with a Jays loss, and without the contributions of Jacoby Ellsbury it’s going to be tough.

As good as the rookies have been, Ellsbury is the catalyst for our offense. Ellsbury is the guy who stirs the drink. Ellsbury is the one the Yankees shelled out the big money to. Yes, he was hurt – what else is new – but as long as he continues to lead off in that lineup, he needs to produce and instead he’s slumping badly. As in stinko. We lost Teixeira. A-Rod, too, has a bone bruise and will sit out the Mets series. Our big hitters are AWOL. So Ellsbury, if you can hear me, do something. Use the day off today and try some yoga, meditation, reiki healing, a hot bath with a nice glass of Malbec, whatever floats your boat, but I want you showing up on Friday night with fire in that bat and in those legs.

Happy Ending to the Subway Series

April 27, 2015

Game 3 was pretty sloppy in terms of the defense, but the Mets really played whoopsie with the ball. Yikes. Maybe they get nervous whenever they come to the Stadium or maybe it was the cold weather this time since the Yanks made their share of bonehead plays too. But in the end it was a Yankee victory, powered in part by the seemingly indestructible A-Rod. As everyone in the world knows by now, he’s one homer shy of Willie Mays’ milestone and the drama that’s getting front page news is will the Yankees pay him the bonus or won’t they? My guess is the two sides will reach some sort of settlement. I can’t see the Steinbrenners or A-Rod/Players Union wanting to drag this out during the season, nor can I see A-Rod wanting to ruin the good will he’s established with the fans and his teammates. But I’ve been wrong before. And when money’s involved, people act crazy so who knows.

The emergence of homer-happy Teixeira is also a nice story. Whether or not it’s his gluten-free diet that’s brought him back from last year’s mediocrity, it doesn’t matter. I’m just glad to see that swing again. Maybe Ellsbury should go gluten free so he doesn’t get injured so much. While he’s nursing his sore hip, Gardner’s been speedy. I’m just not wild about the mustache. Not on him or any of the others. They look like porn stars.

Andrew Miller, our closer for all intents and purposes, is doing a terrific job so far. Good signing, Cashman.

On to the Rays. I’m enjoying these games where the boys are playing better. There’s just one problem. Now that I’m on Eastern Standard Time, I’m going to sleep before the ESPN games are over, plus last night there was no way I was missing “Mad Men” for the end of Yankees-Mets.

Well, That Went Better Than Expected

April 23, 2015

I didn’t think the Yankees would win their first series of the season in Detroit. The Tigers were a red-hot team and we were not. They had David Price and we did not. They had “winner” stamped on them by all the sportswriters and we did not. And yet, we came out of D-Town with the series win. The pitching was great. The hitting was alternately powerful and just crafty enough to score a couple of runs. And the defense seemed to have come together. All of which was remarkable given the cold weather there. (I must mention that it snowed today in CT. I was not amused. It’s April 23rd after all.)

Will the winning streak be a fluke? Will the even-hotter Mets cool us off? Or is this team, weaknesses and all, just good enough to stay competitive?

No idea, but the Detroit series made things interesting enough for me to stay tuned.

Bright Lights, Big City

May 15, 2014

Photo: Mike Stobe/Getty Images North America

Photo: J. Meric/Getty Images North America

Chase Whitley and Dellin Betances were good for the soul tonight in the Yankees’ shutout of the Mets. Whitley was a desperation call up and he performed beautifully, if briefly, even getting a hit. And Betances has just been flat-out impressive. Whenever I think we don’t have a farm system, I see kids like these two and feel warm all over. It’s particularly heartening to watch Betances flourish. He was one of the so-called Killer B’s on the farm, and he’s the only one left. He had control problems as a starter and was reinvented as a reliever. Good move, Yankees. Good move.

Tanaka Is……

May 14, 2014

Let’s face it. Masahiro Tanaka is Superman. He can do just about anything. I wouldn’t be surprised if he could leap tall buildings in a single bound. Not only is he undefeated but he threw a complete game shutout tonight against the Mets, giving the bullpen a rest, giving the Yankees an end to their slide, giving everybody a lift. And he got a hit! I bow down to him.

Great to see Brian Roberts wield a hot bat again. It’s how I remember him when he was an Oriole. And another homer from Tex? Maybe tired legs agree with him. I’m not going to let the injury news about CC, Beltran, etc. bother me. I’m relishing this victory.

Ewwwww

May 13, 2014

I was out for dinner and kept checking the score and reading the summaries, and I nearly lost my appetite. Things are not looking good in Yankeeville. Between Beltran’s bone spur and Nuno’s pitching (I’d love to avoid trashing Aceves, but as I wrote in the last post he’s just not effective anymore), the Yanks were in trouble in tonight’s game from the get go. Yes, there was offense, and it was nice to see McCann start to come around, but if the pitching isn’t there, what good are the bats?

Calling Cashman. Please help us, Brian. We just dropped two to the Mets at the Stadium. The indignity.

Brett "Babe Ruth" Gardner to No Avail

May 12, 2014

It’s not every day that Gardy hits a grand slam, but he did tonight in the Subway Series opener at the Stadium – in a losing effort. It was an ugly loss too, thanks to the pitching.

Both sides slugged their way onto the scoreboard, but the Mets got their hits against a parade of Kuroda, Aceves, Thornton and Claiborne – the same Mets that had low batting averages and little success before they arrived in the Bronx. I know Joe couldn’t use Warren and Bettances and Kelley is still hurting, but are we really hitching our wagon to Aceves? I find that scary. And Claiborne hasn’t been effective since his first few months on the team last year.

Of greater concern is Beltran, who apparently has joined the ranks of the wounded with a hyper-extended elbow and is headed for the Carl Pavano MRI tube. Not good. And he got the injury swinging the bat in the cage? Sheesh. They’re all made of glass, I’m telling you. Watching Teixeira trying to leg out that pinch-hit single was painful.

So we turn our lonely eyes to Vidal Nuno tomorrow. Maybe he’ll throw a no-hitter.

Brett “Babe Ruth” Gardner to No Avail